Amrutesvara Temple

Amruteshwara Temple was built in 1196 by Amrutheshwara Dandanayaka under Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. It is located in the close vicinity of the Bhadra River reservoir, a short distance from Tarikere town.

Amrutesvara temple is a fine example of Hoysala workmanship. It is built with a wide open mantapa (hall). The temple has equally spaced circular carvings. The temple has one vimana, hence it is a ekakuta design. It also has a closed mandapa that connects the shrine to the large open mandapa.

The open mandapa has twenty nine and the closed mandapa has nine bays respectively. There is a side porch that leads to another separate shrine on the south side. The shrine is square in shape. It has the original superstructure richly adorned with sculptures of Kirtimukhas, miniature towers and so on. The wall base has five mouldings which is an older Hoysala style. The Sukanasi has Hoysala emblem of Sala fighting the tiger.

The rows of shining lathe turned pillars that support the ceiling of the mandapa is a great feature of this temple. The mandapa has several deeply domed inner ceiling structures adorned with floral designs. The outer parapet wall of the open mandapa has 140 large panels of sculptures depicting the Hindu epics. The Ramayana is sculpted on the south side wall. On the north side wall, all depictions are clockwise.

Amrutesvara Temple was built in the 1196 by Amrutheswara Dandanayaka, a commander of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. The temple is located in the village Amruthapura, 67 km north of Chikmagalur town in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. The outer walls of the Amrutesvara temple has equally spaced circular carvings. As far as the sculpture in these halls are concerned there are well carved figures on their ceilings. A recurring motif in Hoysala sculpture is that of Sala fighting a tiger. It is interesting to note that the panel consisting of Hindu deities is missing.

The pillars at Amrutesvara temple are lathe turned. The structure of the ceilings is dome shaped with foliage sculptures. The outer parapet wall of the open mandapa has 140 panels that comprise the sculptures of Hindu deities. Episodes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and the early life of Lord Krishna have been etched out on these walls. Ramayana is sculpted on the south side wall on 70 panels which shows the story proceeding anti clockwise. On the north wall the depictions are clockwise which the normal Hoysala style is. Lord Krishna`s life is depicted in 25 panels and the remaining 45 panels depict epic Mahabharata. The tower over the square shaped shrine has Kirthimukas carved on it. Sukanasi bears the Hoysala emblem of Sala fighting a lion. On the outside walls of the open mandapa, there are 140 panels that also depict scenes from the Indian epics.